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Air Guard RN Makes an Impact in Community and Beyond
Everyday, Renown salutes its more than 150 active military and veterans on staff. Becca Gilbert, a Renown trauma nurse, is an example of the many outstanding service members at Renown who are serving both their country and their community. Becca Gilbert, BSN, RN, wears many uniforms. When sheâs not wearing scrubs in her role as a trauma nurse in the intensive care unit of Renown Regional Medical Center, sheâs wearing fatigues as a first lieutenant in the Nevada Air National Guard. âService is huge,â says Becca Gilbert, RN, of her role in the Air Guard. âItâs something that is ingrained in me and a big part of who I am as a person. I find a lot of pride in being a part of something that is bigger than what is going on in my world.â Renown Health was named one of 15 recipients across the nation â and the only health system in the U.S. â for the Department of Defenseâs highest employer award, the Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award, for exceptional support of its military employees. The Employer Support of the Guard and Reserves and Renown held a ceremony June 29 to recognize the award and to honor representatives of Renown who currently serve in the Guard and Reserves. With her Air Guard background, Gilbert is preassigned veteran patients at the Renown ICU. She says sheâs able to relate to the veterans and their families and create a quick bond with them. âIâve been assigned patients who are guard members with traumatic injuries â itâs good but hard,â Gilbert explains. âBut I really love working with patients who are veterans.â Gilbertâs first career was as a veterinarian technician. Then enlisted in the Nevada Air National Guard in August 2008 â following in her fatherâs footsteps â and trained to serve as an EMT. While she was a medic, she went to nursing school for her second bachelorâs degree and was able to commission as an officer after graduation. Serving Our Community Gilbert says her work in the guard offers benefits that help with her job responsibilities at Renown, where sheâs worked for four years. âAt Renown, we are really a team and rely on each other to make sure there are good outcomes,â she says. âIn the guard, officers are often put in charge, which teaches you a lot of things â organization, decision making and thinking of others. I think all of those things go hand-in-hand with my role as a nurse, especially in the ICU. People in the guard count on you as an officer and leader, and that is really important in the ICU when patients are counting on you for a positive outcome.â Gilbertâs responsibilities in the guard vary, including training for disaster relief missions and ensuring service members are fit and healthy enough to perform their jobs. âTraining is a large part of the military â trauma training, physical fitness training and staying current on certifications,â she says. Locally she also leads the Self Aid Buddy Care program, a United States Air Force program that encompasses basic life support and limb-saving techniques to help wounded or injured personnel survive in medical emergencies until medical help is available. With the guard, Gilbert has also been involved in a bleeding-control program for volunteers in the community. She teaches community groups how to stop bleeding if they are a bystander to a car accident or other type of event, and is working with Renown trauma surgeon Marty Bain, M.D. to implement the program at Renown as well. Making a Difference Abroad In January, Gilbert was presented with an opportunity through the Nevada Guard State Partnership Program to travel outside the United States to the Kingdom of Tonga in the South Pacific and work at the Women and Children Crisis Centre, which assists families who are dealing with domestic violence. Gilbert praised the women who work at the center for their efforts towards change, as she says domestic violence is common in Tonga. âThe women who work at the Women and Children Crisis Centre are pioneers,â she says. âThey are trying to make changes by documenting what is going on and providing statistics to the lords and kings of Tonga. Some of it still isnât accepted, but they continue to help the women and children of Tonga. They are helping so many people.â Renown Health salutes Gilbert for her tireless service to her country and her community here at home.
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The Journey Within: Helping Others Through Grief
Learn more about a Renown Health nurse who formed a nonprofit to help other families through loss. After the unexpected loss of her young husband, a Renown Health nurse turned her grief into helping other families navigate the loss of a family member. Jen Walker, RN, MSN, director of clinical excellence, lost her high school sweetheart and husband of eight years when he passed away in October 2015, while their two boys, age 7 and 9, lost their father. Walker, a nurse at Renown since 2003, was overwhelmed by the outpouring of support she received from the Reno community. It inspired her to want to help others in the same situation. âAfter Travis passed, the community did some amazing things for me,â Walker says. âI got really motivated to do the same thing and to give back, so thatâs when I came up with starting The Journey Within.â The Journey Within organization provides support and resources for young families who have lost a close family member. Before officially starting her organization, Walker used some of the money she received after her husband passed and personally donated to three families. And with the help of four board members, Jen officially started The Journey Within in February 2017, and they have helped six families so far. One of the board members is her sister, Anny Goff. âShe thought of creating this foundation in the darkest time of her familyâs life,â Goff says. âShe knew there would be other families that would need help and support and immediately wanted to help others. It showed incredible strength and courage to keep moving forward.â Nursing Careers at Renown Health Nurses at Renown Health demonstrate a commitment to patients and their families through the integration of care, clinical expertise, education, evidence-based practice and the pursuit of quality patient outcomes. Learn more about our mission, vision and values and the benefits of a career in nursing at Renown Health today. Explore Nursing at Renown Walkerâs organization supports families through financial donations, which she funds through two yearly fundraisers. The Travy Tourney is a golf tournament held in memory of Travis, and the âLetâs Toast to Travis Fundraiserâ event raffles prizes and merchandise. Along with financial support, The Journey Within helps families connect with other community resources, such as counseling and grief therapy services. Walker hopes to expand her nonprofitâs fundraising and support for families beyond the Reno-Tahoe community. Because of her outstanding work at Renown and in the community, Walker recently received a 20 Under 40 award from the Reno-Tahoe Young Professionals Network. She has also received a Women of Achievement award, a Leader of the Quarter award and has been nominated four times for Northern Nevada Nurses of Achievement. âShe is strong and resilient and cares a lot about people,â says Jen Richards, chief nursing officer, acute care services. âShe never settles for the status quo and is always pushing our team to do better.â In navigating her own loss and starting a nonprofit to give back, Walker has learned a lot about the community. âIâve gained a tremendous amount of respect for the community as a whole, but especially for the young community,â she says. âSeeing the young people in the community who have been willing to give back and live really selflessly has been amazing to me.â As someone who lost her husband, helping young families who have gone through the loss of a close loved one can hit close to home for Walker, but that doesnât stop her â it fuels her. âThatâs one of the hardest parts about doing this â it takes you back a little bit,â she says. âBut itâs just a very good reminder of âwhy.â Because when I get to talk with these families, I realize that now I am that person who is there to listen. I just want them to know that theyâre talking to someone whoâs been through something similar.â
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Caring for the Whole Family: Renown Nurse Helps Patient with Ailing Pet
Registered Nurse Tori Tembey (left) shared how her co-worker and fellow RN Jennifer Payne helped a patient with his pet's end-of-life arrangements. "It was such a selfless act that Jennifer took the time to do this for the patient.â Tembey says. Pets become members of our own family, and when they are ill or at the end of their lives, it can be devastating for their owners. During a hospital stay, a Renown patient was faced with the difficult decision to euthanize their terminally ill pet. A Renown registered nurse stepped in to help in some pretty remarkable ways. Back in high school, Jennifer Payne wanted to be a veterinarian. She worked in a veterinary hospital and planned to attend veterinary school, but struggled with some of the situations she faced. âI have a lot of compassion for animals,â Payne explains. âAnd some of the things I saw while working at the vet â like people bringing in their cat saying, âIâm moving, you need to put this cat downâ â wasnât OK with me, and wasnât what I wanted to do.â She changed course and went into nursing, but recently drew upon her early experiences working with pets and their owners to help a Renown patient in an extraordinary way. Payne now works in the trauma intensive care unit at Renown Regional Medical Center, where she recently observed a county animal control officer visiting a patient. The patient was visibly upset â they learned their dog was terminally ill and in poor health, and a veterinarian was recommending euthanasia. The patient had lost another dog just before Christmas. The patient hoped to have his ill dog similarly cremated, but animal control does not perform cremation. âI overheard all of this and thought, âthis is the most horrible thing Iâve ever heard,ââ Payne says. She offered to pick up the dog, have him cremated and bring the ashes to the patient. She also took up a collection with her Renown colleagues to pay for the cremation. The next day â her day off â Payne and her young daughter picked up the ashes and brought them to the patient at the hospital. âHe couldnât even talk because he was crying so much,â Payne says. âHe said âI canât thank you enough for all youâve done. Youâre a wonderful person.â There was a friend in the room who asked what my daughterâs name was, and I said âEstelle.â The friend said, âEstelle, your mother is an angel.ââ Payne, who has a golden retriever of her own, says she knows what itâs like to have âfur babies,â and she could see how important this dog was to the patient. âIt was great to be able to do this for him,â she says. Renown salutes nurses like Jennifer Payne, who are making a genuine difference everyday in the lives of patients and in the community.
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Name-Brand Medication vs. Generic: What's the Difference?
Most prescriptions meds are available in generic form. Find out the similarities and differences between the two and how to determine whether a generic is right for you. Approximately 80 percent of prescriptions sold today are generics. If youâre taking a prescription medication, chances are itâs a generic form of the brand-name drug. But are you getting the same quality in a generic medication? Do generics measure up? The answer in most cases is yes â generics, just like branded products, are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration. âTo have a generic product approved by the FDA, the generic manufacturer must prove that its product is bioequivalent to the branded product,â explains Adam Porath, PharmD, BCPS AQ-Cardiology, BCACP and Vice President of Pharmacy Services. Basically, it has to function the same. âGeneric products are extremely well tolerated and will provide the same results as using a branded product,â Porath says. Hereâs how generics are the same as name-brand prescriptions: Generic products contain the same active ingredients. They produce the same desired clinical effect and accompanying side effects. Generics come in the same form as their branded counterparts: pill, liquid or inhaler, for example. Release into the bloodstream matches the name brand in timing and strength. Hereâs how they differ: Generics generally cost less. Federal law requires generics have different names and look different: shape, size, markings and color. Generics contain different inactive ingredients, like binders, fillers and artificial colors. Different side effects with generics can usually be attributed to these additions. Why do generics cost less? When pharmaceutical companies develop a new drug, they are paying for research, development, clinical studies, marketing â in some cases it can cost more than $800 million and take 10 to 15 years to develop a new drug. âThe manufacturers of branded medication products have to recoup their research and development costs,â Porath says. So companies are granted a limited patent to sell their drug without the competition of generic counterparts. âWhen patent exclusivity ends, the market is open for any generic manufacturer to make a competing product with FDA approval.â Without the same startup costs, companies can sell generics at 80 to 85 percent less. And because more than one company can produce the same generics, competition drives prices even lower.
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Getting to Know Stephanie Kruse
There are a lot of impressive titles you can use to describe Stephanie Kruse: entrepreneur, marketer, philanthropist, leader, adventurer, nurse. And now with her planned gift to the Renown Health Nursing Excellence Endowment, she can add one more to the list: a member of the Renown Legacy Society â a group of visionary supporters who have chosen to make a lasting commitment to the future health and wellbeing of northern Nevadans. This generous planned gift comes on the heels of a significant cash gift made to the Nursing Education Fund last summer. Stephanie is an inspiring example of someone who has dedicated her life to helping others. The daughter of a nurse and a retired nurse herself, Stephanie knows the hard work, selflessness and dedication it takes to create a successful business and community. As Chair of the Renown Health Foundation Board of Directors, she also understands the importance of attracting and retaining nurses within a healthcare system. As a way to contribute to a cause near and dear to her heart, she decided to include the Renown Nursing Excellence Endowment as a beneficiary of her retirement plans. âI wanted to honor the memory of my mother, who was a registered nurse in a small-town hospital in Iowa.,â said Stephanie. âI was always very conscious of her passion for providing great care to her patients, and I wanted to provide funding for others interested in nursing.â Across the nation, health systems are facing a shortage of nurses and nursing-related professionals. Renown is proactively implementing programs to build our pipeline of potential future nurses and keep those already in the field. Stephanieâs generous gift will help the endowment provide programs such as training, scholarships, loan repayment and professional development to increase retention and recruitment of prospective nurses. âAs nurses, we are entrusted with our patientsâ lives,â said Melodie Osborn, Chief Nurse Executive at Renown Health. âWe have the privilege of caring for people in their most vulnerable time and helping those who cannot help themselves. Stephanieâs generous gift to the Nursing Excellence Endowment Fund will help us develop new nurses for the future so we can continue to provide care to those in need for generations to come.â No Stranger to Healthcare Long before she found herself leading the Renown Health Foundation Board, Stephanie learned the ins and outs of healthcare. She graduated from nursing school and became a part-time nurse in a Sioux Falls, South Dakota nursing home while attending Augustana College to obtain a degree in journalism and a minor in theater. As part of her journalism program, Stephanie completed an internship in the public relations department of a Sioux Falls hospital, and that led to her accepting a position as director of public relations at a sister hospital. She later was recruited by Saint Mary's Hospital and moved to Reno to be the director of marketing in 1981. She stayed at Saint Mary's for almost 10 years before starting her own company in pursuit of her passion for marketing strategy. Since launching her brand, Stephanie has grown KPS3 to a multi-million-dollar firm with more than 60 staff members. Somehow, she is still able to find time to serve on six (!) volunteer boards, most of which are dedicated to improving access to better health and human services. âI have a soft spot in my heart for organizations who strive against all odds to help those with the greatest needs,â said Stephanie.
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Addressing the Threat of Workplace Violence in Hospitals
In recent years, workplace violence against healthcare workers has been on the rise. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), about 75 percent of nearly 25,000 reported annual workplace assaults occur in healthcare and social service settings. Those who donât work in healthcare may be surprised to learn that violent altercations are so common in our field. Hospital settings can create fear and stress for patients and their families. Pain, mind-altering medications and drugs, and difficult prognoses can amplify these feelings. While inappropriate responses may be understandable, violence cannot be tolerated. As the leader of a health system, protecting our employees is an issue that I take seriously. Reporting Workplace Violence Unfortunately, sometimes employees donât report dangerous incidents fearing they might be blamed, or not realizing itâs a reportable offense. At Renown Health, we take these events seriously. We have clear, mandatory policies and protocols for reporting and investigating violent incidents. Each incident is investigated to ensure follow through and accountability. We also teach de-escalation skills to our hospital security teams, clinicians, and other frontline employees. As an added layer of protection, Renown Health has a first-rate security team that closely monitors activity on our campuses, addressing potential issues before they escalate. Our organization values our partnerships with community organizations including local law enforcement agencies like the Washoe County Sheriffâs Office and the Reno Police Department. Renown Health maintains a close relationship with these partners, and we alert them when our care teams experience an increase in violent incidents. I also recognize that workplace violence is a national problem that demands collaborative solutions. Thatâs why I am also proud to serve as a member of the American Hospital Associationâs Hospitals Against Violence Advisory Committee. Nurses, doctors, paramedics, and frontline health workers care for us every day. Itâs our responsibility to support them by ensuring they feel safe at work.
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Generic Drugs â What You Need to Know About Them
Without a doubt, taking medications can not only be expensive, but also confusing. In the United States, generic prescriptions are widely used, with 9 out of 10 people choosing them over a name brand. Pharmacists are a great resource to help us understand the benefits and side effects of any medication. We asked Adam Porath, PharmD, Vice President of Pharmacy at Renown Health, to answer some common questions about generic drugs. What is a generic drug? A generic drug has the same active ingredients of brand-name drugs. Brand-name drugs have a patent (special license) protecting them from competition to help the drug company recover research and development costs. When the patent expires other manufacturers are able to seek approval for a generic drug. However, the color, shape and inactive elements may be different. Per the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA), a generic medicine works in the same way and provides the same clinical benefit as its brand-name version. Why do they cost less? Generic drug makers do not have the expense of costly development, research, animal and human clinical trials, marketing and advertising. This savings is passed on to the public. Also after a patent expires, several companies will compete on a generic version of a drug, further driving down prices.
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Pharmacists Answer Questions about the COVID-19 Vaccines
Vaccines that provide protection against the COVID-19 virus are bringing us closer to the end of this deadly pandemic. Two different COVID-19 vaccines are currently available in the U.S. today: one from Pfizer and the other from Moderna. Kate Ward, PharmD, BCPS, Director of Clinical Pharmacy at Renown Health and Adam Porath, PharmD, Vice President of Pharmacy at Renown, share what you need to know about these vaccines. When two COVID-19 vaccines were approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) in December 2020, it was cause for celebration. Why? Because according to the CDC, the vaccines are 94 percent or more effective in providing protection against the COVID-19 virus! Many people are seeking information about the new Moderna and Pfizer vaccines. Below, our pharmacy leaders provide answers to some commonly asked questions. How do the COVID-19 Vaccines Work? The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are both mRNA vaccines that help your immune system develop antibodies against the COVID-19 virus. The vaccines use messenger RNA, or mRNA, to show our bodiesâ protein-making cells how to make the spike proteins of the COVID-19 virus. Our immune system reacts to these spike proteins by creating antibodies that can recognize and destroy them. So when a person is exposed to the virus in the future, they will be less likely to get sick. What are the Differences between the Pfizer and Moderna Vaccines? The Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines are very similar, with just a few small differences worth noting. The main difference between the two vaccines is when you should receive your follow-up dose. Patients who receive a first dose of Pfizer should receive their second dose about three weeks later. Those who receive a first dose of Moderna should receive their follow-up vaccination roughly four weeks after their first dose. People 18 years and older can receive the Moderna vaccine while people 16 years and older can receive the Pfizer vaccine. Dosage for the Moderna vaccine is 0.5 ml (100 mcg). Dosage for the Pfizer vaccine is 0.3 ml (30 mcg).
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Five Reasons to Switch to Renownâs Modern-Day Pharmacy
Renown Health has two retail pharmacy locations â one at Renown Regional on Pringle Way and another on Locust Street. And while many people think of a pharmacy as where we get prescriptions and pick up refills, itâs so much more. Adam Porath, vice president of pharmacy services at Renown, discusses five benefits of switching to a Renown Pharmacy. 1. Hospital Integration With the Meds-to-Beds Program, the Renown Health Pharmacy delivers prescriptions to patients on the floor when they leave the hospital. Another thing that is interesting about the pharmacy is its integration with providers. So, if there is a problem with your prescription, the Renown Pharmacy can get hold of your provider right away. We also can see your lab results and make sure that the dose you are prescribed is the right one. 2. On-Site Vaccinations The Renown Health Pharmacy has a private consultation area to administer vaccines on-site. Their team routinely stocks more than a dozen vaccines, and you can call either location (Regional: 775-982-7737 and Locust Street: 775-982-5280) to see if what you're looking for is in stock. Appointments are available in MyChart. 3. Compounding Services Only a fraction of pharmacies in the United States provides compounding services. In the Reno/Sparks area, there are just a few and Renown Pharmacy is one of them. Traditional retail pharmacies take drugs received from a drug manufacturer and put them into a smaller container in the individual amount that the doctor prescribed for a patient. A compounding pharmacy provides medications that are not available commercially. For example, a doctor has prescribed a dose that is smaller than what is commercially available. Compounding the medication will provide the dosage as prescribed. Another example could be a child who canât take a tablet. The pharmacy may be able to use compounding to convert medications into something that is the child can take.
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Dorm Safety and Bacterial Meningitis
Bacterial meningitis is probably the last thing on your mind as you help your child prepare for college. Buying books and stocking up on necessities may top your list, but itâs a good idea to ensure your student is up-to-date on their meningitis vaccine. How Bacterial Meningitis Spreads According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people living in close quarters are more likely to spread this illness to one another. For example, you may have heard about the higher risk of meningococcal (or bacterial) meningitis for new college students. The risk is so serious that many colleges and universities require proof of a vaccine for new students moving into campus housing. This includes the University of Nevada, Reno. To clarify, all incoming freshmen under 23 years of age must show proof of their up-to-date meningitis shot. âBacterial meningitis is considered a medical emergency, and anyone with the signs and symptoms should be evaluated in the emergency room immediately,â says Vanessa Slots, MD, Renown pediatrician. Symptoms of Bacterial Meningitis Fever Nausea Vomiting Irritability Headache Confusion Back pain Stiff or painful neck Leg pain Light sensitivity Rash on the torso or lower extremities Itâs important to know many of these symptoms for both bacterial and viral meningitis are the same. However, the viral type is more common, often clearing up in seven to 10 days without complications. Nonetheless, you should go to the emergency room to be looked at, as the signs are similar for both illnesses. Why is Bacterial Meningitis Dangerous? This illness moves quickly, and in some cases, it can seem like the flu or severe strep throat and take a few days to develop. Or, it can hit in just hours. âBacterial meningitis has an overall death rate of 10 to 15 percent despite treatment with antibiotics,â Dr. Slots warns. Another critical point is problems after recovery can also be severe. Frequently these include brain damage, amputations, infections around the heart, seizures and shock.
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Celebrating Renown Health's Nursing Excellence Conference
Renown Health recently wrapped up the twentieth annual Nursing Excellence and Excellence in Critical Care Conferences, the conference theme was the Courageous Calling and over 400 nurses from specialty fields across the region attended to learn, reflect, build relationships and obtain continuing education units (CEUs).  Celebrating The Courageous Calling During the first day of the Nursing Excellence Conference, local and national leaders presented topics including redefining resilience, documentation liability, transgender healthcare and caring for the homeless population. Among the list of impressive speakers were Chief Nurse Executive at Renown Health, Melodie Osborn, and Nora McInerny, writer and host of the "Terrible Thanks for Asking" podcast.  On day two,speakers focused on the critical care specialties within nursing, including intensive care, emergency room, pediatric intensive care and neonatal intensive care. Topics covered included post-COVID-19 pulmonology with Dr. Graham, traumatic brain injuries with Dr. Demers, COVID-19 reflections with Anicia Beckwith, a discussion about "Mis Câ with Dr. Healy, innovations in imaging with Dr. Rangaswamy and cardiology with Dr. Danaf. Thank you to our sponsors and raffle donors for making this event possible: Erik Olson and Larry Duncan, Jana Elliott, Melodie Osborn, Becky Haase, Lori Tuntland, Dr. Akbar, Dr. Lous, Mel Morris, Grand Sierra Resort, Renown Health Gift Shops, Renown Health Directors of Nursing, Renown Health Marketing & Communications Department, Renown Health Dermatology, Laser, & Skin Care and Renown Health Foundation.  Learn more about finding purpose in the health of our community when working at Renown Health here.
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